The Kingdom of Italy was given a new national currency, the lira, which replaced the local coins that circulated during the short existence of the Italian Republic. The new coins were of the same, size, and metal of the French coins issued at the time. The mintage of each coin was decided by Napoleon, and with an imperial decree on March 21, 1806, production of the coins began at mints in Bologna, Milan, and Venice in 1807. The lower denominated coins were struck in copper, middle denominated coins in silver, and higher denominated coins in gold or fine silver. The currency was subdivided into 100 centesimi (cents), as well as 20 soldi.